UKIP in Scotland has revealed it is using a variety of undercover measures to spy on its opponents.

The party’s chairman north of the border Arthur Thackeray has made the shock revelations that private investigators were hired during the independence referendum and that protest groups against the party were “infiltrated”.

And Thackeray described UKIP’s network as “‘a very good intelligence service” adding that the activities will “most definitely” continue ahead of May’s General Election.

Thackeray, a former security firm boss, said the party has recruited private investigation industry contacts to monitor anti-Ukip protest groups;

And to throw opponents off the scent, he revealed that “spotters” used to infiltrate anti-UKIP protest groups are being recruited from the Polisgh community - because it was felt they were the last people the mob would expect to be working for UKIP.

‘Decoy’ events have been set up by Ukip to take protesters away from the proper venues;

Thackeray himself said he went undercover himself at a Radical Independence Campaign event.

Opponents of then part have branded the tactics as “sinister”.

The security measures have been adopted in Scotland since UK leader Nigel Farage had to be locked in an Edinburgh pub last year to protect him from an angry mob.

Thackeray was a director of his own group of companies ‘in the security and private investigations industry’ before becoming Ukip Scotland chairman and chief of staff to Ukip MEP David Coburn.

He told the Mail on Sunday: “It is safe to say that we have a very good intelligence service within the party now. We keep tabs on everything that’s happening with our opponents. You’ll appreciate from my background I have a network of people who have a range of skills. They’re quite happy to do the job.

“For our members, representatives and certainly for Nigel when he’s in town, safety is important.”